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Angelina Jolie wanted to be the leading lady in hit comedy drama Silver Linings Playbook, according to filmmaker David O. Russell.

Jennifer Lawrence has been tipped for an Academy Award for her portrayal of promiscuous Tiffany in the movie, but Russell thought the 22-year-old star was too young and he had other "major actresses" in mind, including Jolie.

At a screening for TheWrap.com, he explains, "Quite frankly, (Lawrence's audition) was like a formality. I didn't think she was really a contender. We had three very serious contenders (already). We had a lot of major actresses in town interested in the role, from Angelina Jolie to some other big stars, because it's a dimensional role for a young woman. Jennifer we frankly thought was too young."

The Hunger Games beauty went on to win the part after auditioning over Internet phone service Skype, while Bradley Cooper was recruited to play her love interest, but Russell admits he considered a number of other A-list stars during the casting process.

He adds, "I wrote it with Vince (Vaughn) and Zooey (Deschanel) in mind, because I love Vince's cadences... And then Mark Wahlberg, who I love and made three movies with, there was a moment where he was going to do it. That didn't work out... and it was out of my hands... I originally wrote it for other people. But as Matt Damon very graciously said to me about the Christian Bale role in The Fighter - which he was originally intended to play, 'It just goes to show, the right people play the right role at the right time.'"